In the Uzbek city of Samarkand, Slunj was presented with an award from the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) for one of the Best Tourist Villages. Slunj won the award in numerous competitions, among almost 260 applications from more than 60 countries.
This award, even though the name itself speaks of tourism and is associated with the beauty and luxury of Slunj and its cultural and natural treasures, is much more than that. This recognition is for excellence in the field of sustainable and socially responsible business in all aspects, which ultimately manifests itself most in the tourism sector of the city of Slunj.
"We are dividing this award into 4.224 parts, to the 4.224 residents of the area of the city of Slunj who, in the last three decades, worked together and rebuilt our beautiful city that was devastated by the war. Every day of effort, work, persistence and desire to create the city we have today is reflected in this recognition. We are recognized as a small tourist resort that continuously works on development and invests in all segments of society, in order to be an example of excellence in sustainable and socially responsible business. I am extremely proud because together we have received world-class recognition that we are on the right track", pointed out the mayor of the city of Slunj, Mirjana Puškarić.
Director of the Tourist Board of Slunj, Jasmina Mrkonja, presented the project of the City of Slunj today at the official ceremony of the Best Tourist Villages 2023., at the 25th session of the UNWTO General Assembly in Samarkand.
///Suggestion for an excursion - Rastoke or Male Plitvice
In order to get this prestigious title, the Advisory Committee for the Best Tourist Villages at the UNWTO evaluated the work through nine complete areas, namely: cultural and natural resources, promotion and preservation of cultural assets, economic sustainability, management, environmental sustainability, social sustainability, infrastructure and connectivity, tourism potential and development, and health and safety.
Despite the fact that Slunj has the status of a city, it is important to note that they were able to apply for the competition all cities with less than 15.000 inhabitants. The competition of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), specialized agencies of the United Nations, leading international organizations with a key role in promoting the development of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism, was recognized in Slunj as extremely significant because it provides global visibility and an opportunity for further development.
///FRANKOPANSKI SLUNJ – one step to its old glory
Let's remember, in 2018, the city of Slunj was proclaimed the second most hospitable city according to Booking.com. Five years later, the city of Slunj gets the prestigious title of one of the Best Tourist Villages according to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Two world recognitions in the hands of a small continental town in the heart of Croatia - Slunj can be proud.
///Klek, Ozalj and Rastoke hide legends about witches and fairies
List of the best tourist villages of UNWTO 2023:
Al Sela, Jordan
Barrancas, Chile
Biei, Japan
Caleta Tortel, Chile
Cantavieja, Hotel Spain
Chacas, Peru
Chavín de Huantar, Peru
Dahshour, Egypt
Dhordo, India
Dongbaek, Republic of Korea
Douma, Lebanon
Ericeira, Portugal
Philandia, Colombia
Hakuba, Japan
Higueras, Mexico
Huangling, China
Jalpa de Cánovas, Mexico
Kandovan, Iran
La Carolina, Argentina
Lephis village, Ethiopia
Lerici, Italy
Manteigas, Portugal
Morcote, Switzerland
Mosan, Republic of Korea
Oku-Matsushima, Japan
Omitlán de Juárez, Mexico
Oñati, Spain
Ordino, Andorra
Oyacachi, Ecuador
Paucartambo, Peru
Penglipuran, Indonesia
Pisco Elqui, Chile
Pozuzo, Peru
Saint-Ursanne, Switzerland
Saty, Kazakhstan
Schladming, Austria
Sehwa, Republic of Korea
Sentob, Uzbekistan
Shirakawa, Japan
Sigüenza, Spain
Şirince, Turkey
Siwa, Egypt
Slunj, Croatia
Sortelha, Portugal
St. Anton am Arlberg, Austria
Tan Hoa, Vietnam
Taquile, Peru
Tokaj, Hungary
Valeni, Moldova
Vila da Madalena, Portugal
Xiajiang, China
Zapatoca, Colombia
Zhagan, China
Zhujiawan, China
Cover photo: Vedran Božičević, source: Tourist Board of Slunj
